Patents Examined by Ladan Mohaddes
  • Patent number: 9692079
    Abstract: An improved SOFC repeating fuel cell unit comprising three flat plates and a cell retainer. The three flat plates are metallurgically joined (brazed or laser welded) into a subassembly to which is added the fuel cell and cell retainer (which may also be joined as a second subassembly). Each flat plate performs a specific set of functions and can be optimized for those functions. Since the plates are flat and designed to overlap in loaded areas, the fuel cell unit is not prone to dimensional collapse which eliminates the internal reinforcements of the prior art design. The cell retainer is formed to provide a self-locating and locking feature for the fuel cell and decouples thermal stresses from the thin ceramic fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Karl J. Haltiner, Jr., Charles J. Badura
  • Patent number: 9673540
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack constructed in a structure in which a plurality of secondary battery cells are electrically connected to one another via a connection member while the secondary battery cells are mounted in a receiving part of a pack case having no partition, wherein the connection member is located between the battery cells arranged in the longitudinal direction or in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, the connection member is connected, in a mechanical coupling manner, to a lower electrode terminal of the front battery cell in the longitudinal direction and/or to an upper electrode terminal of the rear battery cell in the longitudinal direction, and the connection member is elastically pressed while the connection member is located between the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Gi-Hwan Kwon, Yongho Cho, Seunghyun Bang, HakJun Lee, Hosang Kwon
  • Patent number: 9666893
    Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous electrolyte comprising a redox-active coordination compound of a transition metal which comprises reacting an oxide of the corresponding transition metal in an aqueous reaction medium with a chelating agent in a hydrothermal reaction zone at a temperature in the range of from 100° C. to 160° C. for a period of from 4 hours to 48 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Cristal Inorganic Chemicals Switzerland Ltd
    Inventor: Guoyi Fu
  • Patent number: 9608293
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery proposed herein includes the following steps of: preparing a battery in which an electrode assembly is enclosed in a battery case; filling a first electrolyte solution containing a film forming agent into the battery case; charging and discharging the battery filled with the first electrolyte solution; discharging the first electrolyte solution from the battery that has been charged and discharged; and filling a second electrolyte solution containing a film forming agent at a concentration of less than 0.005 mol/L into the battery case from which the first electrolyte solution has been discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9601785
    Abstract: An oxidant gas conduit communicating with both an oxidant gas inlet communication hole and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole is formed in a surface of a cathode-side metallic separator which forms a fuel cell. Continuous linear guide ridges which protrude from intermediate height sections to the oxidant gas conduit side and form continuous guide conduits are provided on the cathode-side metallic separator. The linear guide ridges are continuously connected to ends of rectilinear conduit ridges which form rectilinear conduits, are provided with bend portions, and are set to lengths which are different from each other in a step-like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Shuji Sato, Takahiro Takai, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9601724
    Abstract: A packaging material for a lithium ion battery includes at least a first adhesive layer, a metal foil layer, a corrosion prevention-treated layer, a second adhesive layer, and a sealant layer which are sequentially laminated on one surface of a base material layer. The thickness of the base material layer is 15 to 40 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9583771
    Abstract: A method of forming diffusion barrier layer includes providing an interconnect for a fuel cell stack, forming a glass barrier precursor layer over a Mn and/or Co containing electrically conductive contact layer on the interconnect, and heating the barrier precursor layer to precipitate crystals in the barrier precursor layer to convert the barrier precursor layer to a glass ceramic barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY COPORATION
    Inventors: Shailendra Parihar, Emad El Batawi, Anita Pradeep Hothur
  • Patent number: 9583781
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers which are wound together to form a jelly roll, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. To increase a current flow in the battery cell, a first set of conductive tabs is coupled to a cathode substrate of the cathode, and a second set of conductive tabs is coupled to an anode substrate of the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank, Bookeun Oh
  • Patent number: 9577282
    Abstract: A redox flow battery. A metal-ligand coordination compound including an aromatic ligand that contains an electron withdrawing group is used as the catholyte and/or the anolyte so that a redox flow battery having high energy density and excellent charge/discharge efficiency may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joungwon Park, Myungjin Lee, Seungsik Hwang, Dooyeon Lee, Dukjin Oh
  • Patent number: 9576694
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel applications for alliform carbon, useful in conductors and energy storage devices, including electrical double layer capacitor devices and articles incorporating such conductors and devices. Said alliform carbon particles are in the range of 2 to about 20 percent by weight, relative to the weight of the entire electrode. Said novel applications include supercapacitors and associated electrode devices, batteries, bandages and wound healing, and thin-film devices, including display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Drexel University, Universite Paul Abatier De Toulouse France
    Inventors: Yury Gogotsi, Vadym Mochalin, John Kenneth McDonough, IV, Patrice Simon, Pierre-Louis Taberna
  • Patent number: 9564629
    Abstract: This invention provides a hybrid nano-filament composition for use as an electrochemical cell electrode. The composition comprises: (a) an aggregate of nanometer-scaled, electrically conductive filaments that are substantially interconnected, intersected, or percolated to form a porous, electrically conductive filament network comprising substantially interconnected pores, wherein the filaments have an elongate dimension and a first transverse dimension with the first transverse dimension being less than 500 nm (preferably less than 100 nm) and an aspect ratio of the elongate dimension to the first transverse dimension greater than 10; and (b) micron- or nanometer-scaled coating that is deposited on a surface of the filaments, wherein the coating comprises an anode active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions and the coating has a thickness less than 20 ?m (preferably less than 1 ?m). Also provided is a lithium ion battery comprising such an electrode as an anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 9543588
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum alloy foil for an electrode current collector, the foil having a high strength after the drying step while keeping a high electrical conductivity. Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy foil for electrode current collector, including: maintaining an aluminum alloy ingot comprising 0.1 to 0.5% of Fe, 0.01 to 0.3% of Si, 0.01 to 0.2% of Cu, 0.01% or less of Mn, with the rest being Al and unavoidable impurities, at 550 to 620° C. for 1 to 20 hours, and subjecting the resulting ingot under a hot rolling with a starting temperature of 500° C. or higher and an end-point temperature of 255 to 300° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: UACJ Corporation, UACJ Foil Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Seki, Satoshi Suzuki, Kenji Yamamoto, Tomohiko Furutani
  • Patent number: 9531043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric cell unit for a secondary battery as well as to such a secondary battery module. The electric cell unit comprises: a first electric cell (12) enclosed by a first casing (13), a second electric cell (14) enclosed a second casing (15), wherein at least one of first and second casings (13, 15) comprises a recessed portion (16, 18) extending along a side edge (11) thereof to form a receptacle (30), which is adapted to receive at least one thermal transfer element (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Belenos Clean Power Holding AG
    Inventor: Donald Corson
  • Patent number: 9515328
    Abstract: In at least certain embodiments, the present invention provides a diffusion media and fuel cells and systems employing the diffusion media. In at least one embodiment, the diffusion media comprises a porous matrix having an outer surface and a hydrophilic polymeric coating on at least a portion of the porous matrix with the hydrophilic coating comprising the cured product of a formulation comprising a hydrophilic monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tao Xie, Chunxin Ji, Yang-Tse Cheng
  • Patent number: 9502694
    Abstract: Provided are a pouch for a secondary battery including a first sheet and a second sheet, and a frame unit which is sealed by the first sheet and the second sheet and includes an accommodating part for accommodating an electrode assembly including electrode tabs therein, and a secondary battery including the pouch. According to the present invention, since a structure of a pouch for a secondary battery may include a frame unit capable of accommodating a large electrode assembly, a high-capacity and large-area secondary battery having high capacity and high stiffness may be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Bum Ahn, Hyuk Su Kim, Jun Woo Huh, Hyang Mok Lee
  • Patent number: 9478834
    Abstract: A fire suppressant battery system has a battery pack, a non-conductive fire suppressant liquid in a fire suppressant bladder, and a fire suppressant protective layer. The bladder melts at a temperature above the battery pack's desired operating condition, has a cavity for receiving the liquid and contacts at least a section of the battery pack. The protective layer is positioned onto a portion of the fire suppression bladder's exterior surface that is on the opposite side to that which contacts the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Electrochem Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Sweetland, Brian Robert Peterson
  • Patent number: 9478362
    Abstract: A plurality of electrical storage elements (11) are electrically connected to each other, and parts of the peripheral surfaces of the electrical storage elements (11) contained in concave surfaces (29) are joined to the concave surfaces (29) with double-sided adhesive tape (35), so that the electrical storage elements (11) can be firmly fixed to a holder (27), and heat can be efficiently transferred from the electrical storage elements (11) to the holder (27) through the double-sided adhesive tape (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: PANASONIC CORPORATION, KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Ninomiya, Susumu Nishimoto, Akihiko Souda
  • Patent number: 9455465
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane which comprises a cation exchange membrane made of a polymer having cation exchange groups and contains cerium ions is used as an electrolyte membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. In a case where the cation exchange membrane has sulfonic acid groups, the sulfonic acid groups are ion-exchanged, for example, with cerium ions so that cerium ions are contained preferably in an amount of from 0.3 to 20% of —SO3? groups contained in the cation exchange membrane. A membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of power generation in high energy efficiency, having high power generation performance regardless of the dew point of the feed gas and capable of stable power generation over a long period of time, can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiji Endoh, Shinji Terazono
  • Patent number: 9437886
    Abstract: An oxygen-containing gas supply device of a fuel cell system is equipped with an oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage that communicates with an oxygen-containing gas inlet of a fuel cell. An oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage communicates with an oxygen-containing gas outlet of the fuel cell. A compressor is disposed in the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage and a supply flow passage sealing valve is disposed downstream from the compressor in the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage. A discharge flow passage sealing valve is disposed in the oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage, and a discharge fluid circulation flow passage that communicates with the oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage is disposed at a location upstream from the discharge flow passage sealing valve, while also communicating with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage at a location upstream from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Nobutaka Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9437878
    Abstract: An electricity storage module includes a plurality of electricity storage cells and a plurality of electricity storage cell holders. Each of the plurality of electricity storage cell holders includes a thermistor holding portion. At least one of the thermistor holding portions of the plurality of electricity storage cell holders is provided to support a thermistor. The thermistor holding portion includes a spring member contact portion, a first engaging portion, and a second engaging portion. The first engaging portion of one of adjacent thermistor holding portions engages with the second engaging portion of another of the adjacent thermistor holding portions to prevent a spring member contact portion from being deformed away from one of the electricity storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomomi Kurita